Eileen Handley

Eileen Anita Handley, 94, of Greenfield died Sunday, June 2, 2019, at Greenfield Manor in Greenfield.

Funeral services were 11 a.m. Friday, June 7, at Fontanelle United Methodist Church with burial in Greenfield Cemetery. The Rev. Cathy Nutting officiated the service. A luncheon was held at the church immediately following the service. Open visitation was from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Steen Funeral Home, 101 SE Fourth St., in Greenfield. Family was present one hour prior to services Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Fontanelle United Methodist Church and all Fire and Rescue Responders of Bridgewater, Fontanelle and Greenfield. Online condolences may be left at www.steenfunerals.com.

Eileen, daughter of Paul and Katie (Ehm) Gross, was born May 11, 1925, on her parent’s farm north of Fontanelle. She grew up attending rural schools and graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1943, where she received the normal training teaching certificate.

On June 10, 1945, she married Wayne Handley at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. She taught in one-room country schools, Jackson No. 3 and later Walnut No. 2, in Adair County for three years, while Wayne served his country in Germany. When Wayne returned, they moved to Des Moines for employment until moving to Jackson Township in Adair County to start farming in March 1948. After 50 years of marriage, they moved to a home in Greenfield.

Eileen was a member of Fontanelle United Methodist Church and Carlson Legion Auxiliary Post 247, and was actively involved in church and community activities including the bloodmobile, Historical Society and 4-H.

Eileen is survived by her son David (Miriam) of Waterford, Wisconsin, daughter Patricia (Mark) Maeder of Greenfield; grandchildren, David A. (Ruth) Handley of Chicago, Illinois, Jennifer (Kevin) Pitts of Maryville, Missouri, Jill (Brent) Stanford of Cumming, Mary (Jason) Burgmaier of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Molly (Daniel) Kilborn of Fontanelle; nine great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Frieda (Charles) Euler, brother Arthur (Elva) Gross and nephew Richard Gross.